Mandevilla plant named ‘BBYEL’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Mandevilla  plant named ‘BBYEL’, characterized by its upright and vining plant habit; moderately vigorous growth habit; freely branching habit; moderately glossy dark green-colored leaves; freely flowering habit; and bright yellow-colored flowers.

Botanical designation: Mandevilla sanderi.

Cultivar denomination: ‘BBYEL’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Mandevilla plant, botanically known as Mandevilla sanderi and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘BBYEL’.

The new Mandevilla plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in De Kwakel, The Netherlands. The objective of the breeding program is to create vining Mandevilla plants with unique and attractive flowers.

The new Mandevilla plant originated from a cross-pollination conducted by the Inventor in De Kwakel, The Netherlands in May, 2013 of a proprietary selection of Mandevilla sanderi identified as code number BC13-324, not patented, as the female, or seed parent with a proprietary selection of Mandevilla sanderi identified as code number BC12-015, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Mandevilla plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in De Kwakel, The Netherlands in August, 2014.

Asexual reproduction of the new Mandevilla plant by cuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in De Kwakel, The Netherlands, since October, 2014 has shown that the unique features of this new Mandevilla plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Mandevilla have not been observed under all possible combinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘BBYEL’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘BBYEL’ as a new and distinct Mandevilla plant:

-   -   1. Upright and vining plant habit.     -   2. Moderately vigorous growth habit.     -   3. Freely branching habit.     -   4. Moderately glossy dark green-colored leaves.     -   5. Freely flowering habit.     -   6. Bright yellow-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Mandevilla can be compared to plants of the female parent selection. Plants of the new Mandevilla differ primarily from plants of the female parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Leaves of plants of the new Mandevilla are smaller with more         pointed apices than leaves of plants of the female parent         selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Mandevilla and the female parent selection         differ in flower color as plants of the female parent selection         have pale yellow-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Mandevilla can be compared to plants of the male parent selection. Plants of the new Mandevilla differ primarily from plants of the male parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Mandevilla are not as compact as plants of         the male parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Mandevilla have smaller flowers than plants         of the male parent selection.     -   3. Plants of the new Mandevilla and the male parent selection         differ in flower color as plants of the male parent selection         have pale yellow-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Mandevilla can be compared to plants of Mandevilla sanderi ‘Lancalifornia’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 24,074. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Mandevilla differ primarily from plants ‘Lancalifornia’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Mandevilla are upright and vining in plant         habit whereas plants of ‘Lancalifornia’ are upright to outwardly         spreading in plant habit.     -   2. Leaves of plants of the new Mandevilla are smaller with more         pointed apices than leaves of plants of ‘Lancalifornia’.     -   3. Plants of the new Mandevilla have smaller flowers than plants         of ‘Lancalifornia’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Mandevilla plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the actual colors of the new Mandevilla plant.

The photograph on the first sheet comprises a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘BBYEL’ grown in a container.

The photograph on the second sheet is a close-up view of a typical flower and flower buds of ‘BBYEL’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown during the late spring and early summer in 17-cm containers in a glass-covered greenhouse in De Kwakel, The Netherlands and under cultural practices typical of Mandevilla commercial production. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 16° C. to 25° C. and night temperatures ranged from 16° C. to 20° C. Plants were ten months old when the photographs and description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2015 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Mandevilla sanderi ‘BBYEL’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of Mandevilla             sanderi identified as code number BC13-324, not patented.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of Mandevilla             sanderi identified as code number BC12-015, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By vegetative cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About ten days at             temperatures about 24° C.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About 16 days at             temperatures about 21° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About five             weeks at temperatures about 24° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About six             weeks at temperatures about 21° C.         -   Root description.—Medium in thickness, fibrous; typically             white to light brown in color, actual color of the roots is             dependent on substrate composition, water quality,             fertilizers, substrate temperature and physiological age of             roots.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; dense. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Upright and vining plant habit;             moderately vigorous growth habit.         -   Plant height.—About 53.1 cm.         -   Plant diameter (spread).—About 32.8 cm.         -   Lateral branch description.—Branching habit: Freely             branching habit with about six primary and about 15             secondary lateral branches developing per plant. Length:             About 41.7 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm. Internode length. About             1.3 cm. Strength: Strong. Texture and luster: Smooth,             glabrous; glossy; becoming woody with development. Color,             developing: Close to 174A. Color, developed: Close to 143B;             when woody, close to 197B and 197C. -   Leaf description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite, simple.         -   Length.—About 6 cm.         -   Width.—About 3.5 cm.         -   Shape.—Ovate.         -   Apex.—Apiculate to nearly aristate.         -   Base.—Cordate.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Texture and luster, upper surface.—Smooth, glabrous;             moderately glossy.         -   Texture and luster, lower surface.—Smooth, glabrous;             slightly to moderately glossy.         -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate.         -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 143A.             Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to between 144A and             146B. Full expanded leaves, upper surface: Darker than             between 143A and 146A; venation, close to 144A. Fully             expanded leaves, lower surface: Close to between 144A and             146B; venation, close to 144B.         -   Petioles.—Length: About 8 mm. Diameter: About 1.25 mm.             Strength: Moderately strong. Texture and luster, upper and             lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; matte. Color, upper             surface: Close to N148A. Color, lower surface: Close to             144B. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower type and flowering habit.—Single salverform flowers             arranged in axillary cymes; flowers star-shaped and face             upright to outwardly; freely flowering habit with about 6 to             33 flowers developing per inflorescence and about 180             flowers developing per plant during the flowering season.         -   Natural flowering season.—Plants flower continuously from             spring into the autumn in The Netherlands; plants begin             flowering about 20 weeks after planting.         -   Flower longevity on the plant.—About four to five days;             flowers not persistent.         -   Fragrance.—Faint; acidic-sweet and pleasant.         -   Inflorescence height.—About 10.3 cm.         -   Inflorescence diameter.—About 7.5 cm.         -   Flower buds.—Length: About 4.1 cm. Diameter: About 1 cm.             Shape: Oblanceolate to narrowly oblanceolate. Texture and             luster: Smooth, glabrous; slightly glossy. Color: Close to             10A and 11A; towards the apex, close to 1A and 1B; towards             the base, close to 145A.         -   Flowers.—Appearance: Flared trumpet, corolla fused and             five-parted. Diameter: About 6 cm. Depth (length): About             3.8 cm. Throat diameter: About 1.2 cm. Tube length: About             3.2 cm. Tube diameter, distally: About 1.3 cm.         -   Corolla.—Quantity and arrangement: Five petals arranged in a             single whorl; proximal 60% portion of the petals are fused             into a tube. Petal length: About 6 cm. Petal width: About             2.4 cm. Petal shape and appearance: Roughly spatulate. Petal             apex: Rounded. Petal margin: Entire. Petal texture and             luster, upper surface: Smooth, glabrous; slightly velvety;             matte. Petal texture and luster, lower surface: Smooth,             glabrous; slightly glossy. Throat and tube texture: Smooth,             glabrous; slightly velvety. Color: Petal, when opening,             upper surface: Close to 14B. Petal, when opening, lower             surface: Close to 12A. Petal, fully opened, upper and lower             surfaces: Close to 12A; venation, close to 12A; color does             not change with development. Throat: Close to 13A; venation,             close to 17A to 17C. Tube: Close to 150B; venation, close to             150B.         -   Calyx.—Quantity and arrangement: Five sepals arranged in a             single whorl. Length: About 2 mm. Diameter: About 3 mm.             Sepal length: About 2 mm. Sepal width: About 1.5 mm. Sepal             shape: Roughly deltoid. Sepal apex: Acute. Sepal base:             Broadly cuneate. Sepal margin: Entire. Sepal texture and             luster, upper surface: Smooth, glabrous; glossy. Sepal             texture and luster, lower surface: Smooth, glabrous;             moderately glossy. Sepal color: When opening, upper surface:             Close to 144A. When opening, lower surface: Close to 143B.             Fully opened, upper surface: Close to 144A to 144B. Fully             opened, lower surface: Close to 144A.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 5.4 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm.             Strength: Strong. Aspect: About 30° from lateral branch             axis. Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous; matte. Color:             Close to 144A.         -   Pedicels.—Length: About 1.6 cm. Diameter: About 1.5 mm.             Strength: Strong. Aspect: About 40° from peduncle axis.             Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous; moderately glossy.             Color: Close to 144C.         -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity and arrangement:             Typically five; basifixed; anthers connivent. Filament             length: About 1 mm. Filament color: Close to 160B. Anther             size: About 1.25 mm by 6 mm. Anther shape: Narrowly oblong.             Anther color: Close to 160D. Pollen amount: None observed.             Pistils: Quantity: Typically one. Pistil length: About             1.7 cm. Style length: About 1.6 cm. Style color: Close to             154C. Stigma shape: Club-shaped. Stigma color: Close to             160C. Ovary color: Close to 144A.         -   Seeds and fruits.—Seed and fruit production have not been             observed on plants of the new Mandevilla. -   Disease & pest resistance: Plants of the new Mandevilla have not     been noted to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to     Mandevilla plants. -   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Mandevilla have been     observed to be suitable for USDA Hardiness Zones 9 to 13. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Mandevilla plant named ‘BBYEL’ as illustrated and described. 